Performance-enhancing footwear that augments human biomechanics of the leg, ankle, and foot

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear to improve walking ease and comfort, increase running speed, and improve jumping ability by augmenting the natural musculature and biomechanical characteristics of the lower leg, ankle, and foot portion of the human body. Walking, running, and jumping involves a complex series of joint and muscle movements. One of the critical components of this motion is the exertion of muscle force and/or tendon stress at the lower leg, ankle, and foot when releasing weight from the back foot during walking or running (the push off), or from one or both feet when jumping. The present invention augments this natural process by allowing storage of energy within energy storage and release means ( 35 ) as the angle θ produced by the intersection of the lower leg axis and foot axis is decreased (the forward portion of the foot moves closer to the shin) when a person moves forward during walking or running, or when a person jumps. The energy stored within the energy storage and release means ( 35 ) is released as the person continues with forward and/or upward motion, augmenting the natural musculature, allowing longer and/or easier steps, and/or higher jumps. The energy storage and release means ( 35 ) of the present invention connect, or are secured by mounting means that connect, portions of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint and portions of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, thus taking advantage of the change in θ that occurs during walking, running, or jumping. Because the present invention utilizes the natural motion, musculature, and biomechanics of normal walking, running, or jumping, it provides a more stable, comfortable, and efficient method to achieve the desired goal of walking more easily, running faster, or jumping higher.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to performance-enhancing footwear, more specifically, footwear that incorporate at least one energy storage and release means.

2. Description of Prior Art

The present invention is a unique article of footwear that incorporates at least one energy storage and release means which may be advantageously used in a preferred embodiment of the invention to enable the wearer of said article of footwear to walk easier, run faster, or jump higher than without said article of footwear. Force generated as a wearer's angle joint is compressed (foot-leg angle decreases) is stored in an energy storage and release means and is later released at an advantageous time.

The prior art includes a large number of footwear devices that include energy storage and release means. However, all of the prior art devices appear to place the energy storage and release means in the toe, base, or heel portion of the footwear. The position and function of the energy storage and release means of the prior art results in instability and minimal improvements to the natural walking, running, and jumping ability of a wearer. These prior art devices do not take sufficient advantage of the natural motion, musculature, and biomechanics associated with normal walking, running, and jumping.

Accordingly, an article of footwear which improves the natural walking, running, and jumping ability of humans by taking advantage of the natural function and process associated with the bending and straightening of the lower leg-foot angle when walking, running, or jumping, is highly desirable.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the article of footwear described in my patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:

-   -   (a) to provide an article of footwear that utilizes at least one         energy storage and release means to augment the natural         musculature of the human body;

1(b) to provide an article of footwear that takes advantage of the natural biomechanics of the human body involved with walking;

-   -   (c) to provide an article of footwear that takes advantage of         the natural biomechanics of the human body involved with         running;     -   (d) to provide an article of footwear that takes advantage of         the natural biomechanics of the human body involved with         jumping;     -   (e) to provide an article of footwear that allows easier         walking;     -   (f) to provide an article of footwear that allows faster         running;     -   (g) to provide an article of footwear that allows higher         jumping;     -   (h) to provide an article of footwear that utilizes energy         storage and release means, without causing significant         instability to the user, by mimicking the natural musculature         and biomechanics of the human body involved with walking,         running, or jumping.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which single energy storage and release means are functionally located on the upper, front portion of the footwear.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located on the upper, front portion of the footwear.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located on the sides of the footwear.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located on the sides of the footwear.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located at the rear portion of the footwear.

FIG. 6 shows a front view of one embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of energy storage and release means are functionally located on the upper-frontal portion of the footwear.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located at the upper, frontal portion of the footwear and the sides of the footwear.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located at the sides and rear of the footwear.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located at the upper-front, and rear, of the footwear.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention in which energy storage and release means are functionally located at the upper-front, sides, and rear, of the footwear.

FIG. 11 shows the function of the invention during use.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

35 energy storage and release means

36 simple mounting means

37 complex (hinged) mounting means

38 complex (hinged) mounting means

50 attachment means located above the level of the ankle joint

51 attachment means located below the level of the ankle joint

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, an article of footwear that augments the human biomechanics of the leg, ankle, and foot to allow easier walking, faster running, and higher jumping, through inclusion of one or more energy storage and release means that connect directly, or are secured by mounting means and attachment means that connect directly, to a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint, and to a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint.

Description—FIGS. 1 to 11

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 (side view) and FIG. 2 (view from the front). An article of footwear includes an energy storage and release means 35 either directly connected to a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle at some position using a connecting means 50, and directly connected to a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle at some position using a connecting means 51, or an energy storage and release means 35 secured by mounting means 36 connected to a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint at some position using connecting means 50, and connected to a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint at some position using connecting means 51.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 (side view) and FIG. 4 (view from the front). An article of footwear includes energy storage and release 35 means secured with complex (hinged) mounting means 37 attached to a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint using connecting means 50, with mounting means located along the sides of the footwear and connected to a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint using connecting means 51.

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes energy storage and release means located at the back of the footwear (FIG. 5). An article of footwear includes energy storage and release means 35 secured by complex (hinged) mounting means 38, located at the back of the footwear, connected to a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint using connecting means 50, and connected to a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint using connecting means 51 at some position along the bottom of the footwear.

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes a plurality of energy storage and release means 35 located at the front portion of the footwear (FIG. 6). Energy storage and release means 35 are directly attached to the upper portion of the footwear, above the level of the ankle joint, at 50, and directly attached to the lower, front portion of the footwear, below the level of the ankle, at 51, or are secured by mounting means 36 that connect the upper portion of the footwear, at some position 50, above the level of the ankle joint, to the lower portion of the footwear, below the level of the ankle joint, at some position 51.

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes some combination of energy storage and release means 35 located at the upper-front portion and the sides of the footwear (FIG. 7).

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes some combination of energy storage and release means 35 located at the sides and rear of the footwear (FIG. 8).

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes some combination of energy storage and release means 35 located at the upper-front, and rear portion of the footwear (FIG. 9).

Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes some combination of energy storage and release means 35 located at the upper-front, sides, and rear of the footwear (FIG. 10).

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show how the natural motion associated with walking, running, or jumping involves extension and compression of the angle θ formed by the axis of the foot and the axis of the lower leg. Prior to stepping off the back foot when walking or running, or prior to leaving the ground when jumping, θ reaches a minimum value, while one or more energy storage and release means 35 store energy(FIG. 11A). As the motion associated with walking, running, or jumping continues, θ increases, resulting in energy being released from the energy storage and release means 35 (FIG. 11B).

Operation—FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11

The present invention represents a radical change from the prior art in regards to utilization of energy storage and release means as part of footwear designs. Embodiments associated with this invention utilize one or more energy storage and release means that link a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11). This linkage allows the energy storage and release means to augment the natural biomechanics associated with walking, running, or jumping. The axis of the human foot and axis of the human lower leg intersect at an angle θ (FIG. 11). When humans walk, run, or jump, θ increases and decreases as the foot contacts the ground and leaves the ground. During walking and running, θ decreases after the front foot strikes the ground (FIG. 11A) while the back foot is raised to move it forward. During jumping, θ decreases when a person prepares to jump as the legs and body compress toward the ground (FIG. 11A). While θ is decreasing, human musculature controlling movement at the ankle either stores energy, or prepares to exert energy. Later, during walking or running, θ increases as the back foot begins to leave the ground (FIG. 11B). During a later phase of jumping, θ increases as the person begins to leave the ground (FIG. 11B). As θ increases, human musculature controlling movement at the ankle either releases stored energy, or exerts energy. The musculature associated with movement at the ankle experiences cyclical storage and release of energy while walking, running, or jumping.

The present invention augments the natural musculature and biomechanics associated with walking, running, or jumping by providing one or more energy storage and release means that function in a similar manner to the natural human musculature and biomechanics. Through incorporation of one or more energy storage and release means at the frontal, top portion of the footwear (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10), side portion of the footwear (FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 10), rear portion of the footwear (FIG. 5, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10), some combination of front and side mounts (FIG. 7), some combination of front and rear mounts (FIG. 9), some combination of side and rear mounts (FIG. 8), or some combination of all three types of mounts (FIG. 10), the natural energy storage and release of human musculature associated with motion of the ankle is augmented.

In embodiments of the present invention that utilize front mounted energy storage and release means (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10), a simple connection between a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle and a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle allows the present invention to utilize energy storage and release means to utilize the change in θ associated with walking, running, or jumping. The energy storage and release means incorporated within embodiments that utilize front-mounted energy storage and release means may be directly attached to portions of the footwear above and below the level of the ankle, or may be secured by mounting means that connect portions of the footwear above and below the level of the ankle.

In embodiments of the present invention that utilize side-mounted energy storage and release means (FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 10), a complex (hinged) connection between portions of the footwear above the level of the ankle with portions of the footwear below the level of the ankle may be utilized with energy storage and released means, to more accurately mimic the natural musculature of the foot, and provide greater comfort to the user. Complex (hinged) mounting means or single-piece mounting means could involve one or more energy storage and release means to provide energy storage when θ decreases during walking, running, or jumping, and energy release when θ increases during walking, running, or jumping.

In embodiments of the present invention that utilize rear-mounted energy storage and release means (FIG. 5, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10), a connection between a portion of the footwear above the ankle joint and a portion of the footwear below the ankle joint is maintained. The connection may be an energy storage and release means itself, or a plurality of energy storage and release means, or the connection may be a mounting means that secures an energy storage and release means, or plurality of energy storage and release means, that stores energy when θ decreases during walking, running, or jumping, and releases energy when θ increases during walking, running, or jumping.

In embodiments of the present invention that utilize one or more energy storage and release means located in some combination of front, side, and rear positions of the footwear, connection is made between portions of the footwear above the ankle joint and portions of the footwear below the ankle joint such that energy is stored in the energy storage and release means when θ decreases, and energy is released from the energy storage and release means when θ increases.

Summary, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader will see that the present invention provides innovative augmentation of the natural musculature and biomechanics of the human foot such that walking takes less effort, running can be done more quickly, and heights of jumping can be increased. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide more stable augmentation than previously attempted through the prior art.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, rather than three, top-mounted energy storage and release means, two, or more than three, could be used. Any combination of energy storage and release means located anywhere on the footwear, such that the means, or attachment means used to secure the energy storage and release means, provide a link between a portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle, and a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle, and utilizing the changing angle θ, formed by the intersection of the foot axis and lower leg axis, such that energy is stored in energy storage and release means when θ decreases, and energy is released from energy storage and release means when θ increases, would conceptually be included within the scope of this invention, even though not necessarily illustrated in one of the included figures.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. An article of performance enhancing footwear, comprising; one or more energy storage and release means connecting the portion of the footwear located above the ankle joint of the wearer to a portion of the footwear below the ankle joint of the wearer; whereby, the decrease in the angle formed by the intersection of the lower leg axis and the foot axis, 0, associated with application of force, through muscles and/or gravity, during the process of running, walking, or jumping, is associated with energy storage within the energy storage means; whereby, as θ increases during a later time while walking, running, or jumping, energy stored within the energy storage and release means is released; and whereby said release of energy augments the wearer's natural musculature and biomechanics associated with walking, running, or jumping; and whereby said storage and release of energy which augments the natural musculature and biomechanics of walking, running, and jumping results in greater ease of walking, the ability to run faster, or the ability to jump higher.
 2. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper, front portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with an upper, front portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint.
 3. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper, front portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with an upper, front portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint using a mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means.
 4. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper, front portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with an upper, front portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint using a complex (hinged) mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means.
 5. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, using complex (hinged) mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means, along the sides of the footwear.
 6. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, using mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means, along the sides of the footwear.
 7. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, at the rear of the footwear.
 8. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, using mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means, at the rear of the footwear.
 9. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, using complex (hinged) mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means, at the rear of the footwear.
 10. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means connect an upper portion of the footwear above the level of the ankle joint with a portion of the footwear below the level of the ankle joint, using a combination of front, side, and/or rear locations for connections of energy storage and release means and/or combination of front, side, or rear locations for mounting means to secure the energy storage and release means.
 11. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means are coupled with more complex mechanical and/or electronic apparatus to allow variable rates, timings, and quantities of energy storage and release.
 12. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means are coupled with supplementary mechanical, chemical, or electrical power sources to increase the energy release capabilities.
 13. The performance enhancing footwear of claim 1 wherein said energy storage and release means are used to augment the natural musculature and biomechanics associated with the decrease and increase of the angle formed by the intersection of the axis of the toes and the axis of the foot. 